China company says 4 dead from violence in Vietnam

BEIJING (AP) — A Chinese company says four of its workers died last week in riots in Vietnam triggered by China’s deployment of an oil rig in a disputed territory.

China Metallurgical Group Corp. said in a statement Tuesday that 126 other workers were hurt, including 23 who were seriously injured, in the violence May 14 at Ha Tinh, where the company is building a steel plant.

There was no immediate comment from the Chinese and Vietnamese governments, which have previously reported two deaths.

The company’s statement, which was filed with the Shanghai Stock Exchange, did not identify the victims or their nationalities. It said DNA testing is being used to identify two of the dead.

It said most of its employees were evacuated from Vietnam following the violence.